The Star: October 31, 2019

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Thursday October 31 2019 The Star
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
41
Boot goes into exciting Mazda 3
Motoring
Ross Kiddie
IT’S TOO early to be talking
about the 2019 New Zealand
Motoring Writer’s Guild Car of
the Year award, the nominations
have only just been released and
judging won’t be complete until
December.
However, I’m pleased to say
the new Mazda3 is on the list of
finalists. I say this because the
latest generation model has made
quite an impact on me, it is one
very fine vehicle.
Effectively, I’ve driven three
models back-to-back, two hatches
and a sedan, and each stands out
as being competent, quality built,
efficient and purposeful, what’s
more it’s such a darn nice car to
drive and to be in.
I’ve mentioned many times
in these columns how I’m very
much a sedan buyer and although
I’ve owned hatches and liftbacks
over the years, I’m always drawn
to the traditional concept.
This evaluation surrounds
the Mazda3 sedan, and it would
be the car for me if I had funds
to buy new in today’s market.
I would settle for the entry
level GSX at $36,595, but the
evaluation car – a Limited at
$48,795 – is a model which
borders on the luxury car class for
just a fraction of the cost.
As opposed to the GSX with
its 2-litre engine, the GTX and
Limited both get a 2.5-litre
four-cylinder engine. Each has
its merits, and both deliver
outstanding performance.
The 2.5 is rated at 139kW and
252Nm, although the outputs
are reached a little tall in the rev
band at 6000rpm and 4000rpm
respectively, the management
protocols are structured so that
effective torque is spread broadly.
Drive is carried to the front
wheels through a traditional sixspeed
automatic transmission.
In limited form the driver has
the use of paddle shifters should
he or she want to get involved in
the gearchange process. Shifts are
smooth and satisfactorily quick,
the engine has no trouble filling
the gaps between gears but with
six cogs the ratios are quite close,
so there are no surprises there.
The gearing is also structured
so that the engine isn’t loaded
at highway speed, at 100km/h it
is turning over at just 1900rpm,
quite relaxed and sipping fuel
MAZDA3 LIMITED SEDAN: Increase in boot space.
at the instantaneous rate of
5.5-litres per 100km (51mpg).
That contributes to the efficient
7.6l/100km (37mpg) dash panel
average during my time with the
evaluation car. Mazda claims
a combined cycle average of
6.5l/100km (44mpg), which
correlates well with my figures.
In terms of figures, the new 3
also has a good turn of speed,
it’s no rocket, but with an 8.8sec
time to make 100km/h from a
standstill, it easily keeps pace with
traffic and disgraces cars with a
far higher pedigree. A lot of that
can be attributed to its relative
lightweight, at 1388kg, it’s not
burdened, and is a tribute to the
Mazda engineers who, early in
the company’s manufacturing
process, realised how important it
is to build cars minimising weight
in all components.
That also has a beneficial effect
on handling. The Mazda3 is tight
and composed when presented
with quick corners. I took the
test car on a short hilly burst and
enjoyed its directional accuracy
and stability. Saying that, the new
model doesn’t have the benefit
of four-wheel independent
suspension, there are struts up
front, but the rear is a torsion
beam-type linking the two rear
wheels. Nevertheless, I’m yet to
find a reason why I don’t like it.
If today’s new car buyer isn’t
hell-bent on buying a sports utility
vehicle, then the next option would
generally be a hatch or liftback.
That being the case, the Mazda3
sedan would probably be a final
choice for many. However, it’s there
for those like me who are drawn to
having good boot space. Yes, the
load space in the Mazda3 sedan
is deep and cavernous – 444-litres
of cargo can be carried there. That
compares to 295-litres of the hatch
with the rear seats upright.
There’s no compromise in
styling; while the hatchback
• Price – Mazda3 Limited
sedan, $48,795
• Dimensions – Length,
4460mm; width, 1795mm;
height, 1440mm
• Configuration – Fourcylinder,
front-wheeldrive,
2488cc, 139kW,
252Nm, six-speed
automatic.
• Performance –
0-100km/h, 8.8sec
• Fuel usage – 6.5l/100km
is bold and daring around the
C-pillar, the sedan is a little more
conservative, but it still looks
smart and desirable.
Limited specification is Mazda’s
high grade variant, and it misses
out on nothing. All the traditional
items are fitted including the latest
generation i-Activesense suite of
safety technologies.
It’s been a big year for Mazda
New Zealand, it has launched
a raft of new models and I’ve
evaluated all of those.
Each stands out for varying
reasons but the one thing
common to all is the involvement
and enjoyment that can be
gleaned from being in the
company’s line-up. It is indicative
of the passion it has for making
engaging, mainstream cars that
punch well above their weight
in terms of where they sit in the
market.
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